Daniel Walter, 25, was among the protesters gathered in the Lekki suburb of Lagos, Nigeria's economic and financial capital, when armed and uniformed men pulled up at the site on Tuesday evening. What happened next has drawn international condemnation and focused the world's attention on the violent suppression of anti-government protests sparked by police impunity that have swept the country since early this month.
Mr Walter, a businessman, said it was about 7pm, two hours after the start of a curfew declared by the Lagos governor, when the street lights suddenly went off around the Lekki toll gate, a regular site for the anti-police demonstrations. But he had no premonition of danger.
"The governor had already promised us safety and people were very confident that the military wasn't going to shoot at us. So, when we saw their trucks arriving, everybody sat on the ground waving the Nigerian flag and singing the national anthem," he told The National.
The protesters had barely finished the last line of the anthem – “to build a nation where peace and justice shall reign’ – when the men began advancing. “They arrived and started shooting into the sky. When they saw that we didn’t run, they began to shoot directly at us,” Mr Walter said.
“I saw people dropping dead on the ground and others with gunshot injuries ... it was such a horrific sight that it made me shed tears.”
The military has denied responsibility for the shooting, the worst of numerous attacks since protests began early this month against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a unit of the Nigerian police that has been accused of extrajudicial killings and brutalising citizens. At least 56 people across the country have died.
Nigeria's army has said reports that soldiers opened fire on demonstrators were "fake news", while Police Minister Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi has said it was "definitely not the police".
Nigerians staged protests at embassies and consulates around the world in response to the shooting, while countries, multinational bodies and celebrities have condemned the incident.
President Muhammadu Buhari had not yet directly commented on the shooting as of Thursday.
Mr Buhari and the country’s police chief, Mohammed Abubakar Adamobsmu, vowed to crack down on the SARS after the protests began, and the unit was disbanded on October 11.
“The disbanding of SARS is only the first step in our commitment to extensive police reforms,” President Buhari announced in a televised statement. “We will also ensure that all those responsible for misconduct are brought to justice.”
However, the police within days established a new anti-robbery unit, the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) squad, which sounded to many Nigerians like a simple rebranding. The protesters now say the abolition of SARS is not enough, and are calling for more far-reaching reforms and action to address police brutality, especially after the attacks on demonstrators.
The demonstrations were sparked by a recent surge of social media videos allegedly showing extrajudicial killings, extortion, unlawful arrests and detention by members of SARS, a unit was set up in late 1992 to curb cases of armed robbery, kidnapping and other armed crime. The hashtag #EndSARS began trending on Twitter, with users sharing stories of police abuse and calling for a dismissal of the unit and wide-scale reform of the entire police force. Amnesty International says it documented more than 82 cases of abuse and extrajudicial killings by SARS officers from January 2017 to May this year.
Groups of hoodlums are widely suspected of being paid by powerful interests in Nigeria to attack peaceful #EndSARS protests and try to discredit the movement.
Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu blamed the attack in Lekki on "forces beyond our direct control” and ordered the formation of a fact-finding committee to be headed by a retired military officer.
Amnesty International said it had credible evidence that at least 12 people were killed and hundreds severely injured. "These shootings clearly amount to extrajudicial executions,” Osai Ojigho, Amnesty’s Nigeria director, said in a statement on Wednesday night. Closed-circuit television cameras at the toll gate were dismantled to cover up the killings, the rights group said.
A live social media broadcast by DJ Switch, a Lagos disc jockey who was at the scene, showed protesters using makeshift implements to remove bullets from their colleagues. Images posted on social media showed dead bodies and people fleeing as the forces shot live rounds towards the crowd.
One video showed an ambulance driving towards the scene but unable to advance further. The driver and two medical staff in the ambulance could be heard saying that the military refused to let them through. In other videos, protesters carrying bloodied Nigerian flags were seen running for help.
Mobs of youths started fires and vandalised public and private property across Lagos in response to the shooting. The crisis, however continued on Thursday, as people continued to burn down structures, targeting government properties. An attack was also launched on facilities at the Nigeria Correction Service in Ikoyi, Lagos where inmates are serving their jail term.
Ayo Sogunro, a human rights lawyer, said the protests had triggered a new culture of asserting rights in Nigeria. “When people lose trust in the capacity of the government, including policymaking, and they have a very high degree of consciousness on those issues, the combination will always result in protests to get the government to act on their demands.”
Kabiru Adamu, a defence and security analyst, said he saw the crisis coming from the first day of the protests because of the level of frustration and bottled-up anger, and government policies that do not resonate with the people.
"A lot of Nigerians who have experienced police brutality wanted to express their anger during the movement", especially with coronavirus lockdowns, and increases in electricity tariff and fuel, Mr Adamu told The National.
A secessionist movement in the south-east and anger in the northern region, “could capitalise on any protest to express themselves”, he said.
Nigerians see all the tactical units of the police force as members of SARS, so many of those who had experienced “police brutality, high-handedness and extrajudicial killing saw the protests as a genuine avenue to air their grievances”.
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More on Quran memorisation:
How to play the stock market recovery in 2021?
If you are looking to build your long-term wealth in 2021 and beyond, the stock market is still the best place to do it as equities powered on despite the pandemic.
Investing in individual stocks is not for everyone and most private investors should stick to mutual funds and ETFs, but there are some thrilling opportunities for those who understand the risks.
Peter Garnry, head of equity strategy at Saxo Bank, says the 20 best-performing US and European stocks have delivered an average return year-to-date of 148 per cent, measured in local currency terms.
Online marketplace Etsy was the best performer with a return of 330.6 per cent, followed by communications software company Sinch (315.4 per cent), online supermarket HelloFresh (232.8 per cent) and fuel cells specialist NEL (191.7 per cent).
Mr Garnry says digital companies benefited from the lockdown, while green energy firms flew as efforts to combat climate change were ramped up, helped in part by the European Union’s green deal.
Electric car company Tesla would be on the list if it had been part of the S&P 500 Index, but it only joined on December 21. “Tesla has become one of the most valuable companies in the world this year as demand for electric vehicles has grown dramatically,” Mr Garnry says.
By contrast, the 20 worst-performing European stocks fell 54 per cent on average, with European banks hit by the economic fallout from the pandemic, while cruise liners and airline stocks suffered due to travel restrictions.
As demand for energy fell, the oil and gas industry had a tough year, too.
Mr Garnry says the biggest story this year was the “absolute crunch” in so-called value stocks, companies that trade at low valuations compared to their earnings and growth potential.
He says they are “heavily tilted towards financials, miners, energy, utilities and industrials, which have all been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic”. “The last year saw these cheap stocks become cheaper and expensive stocks have become more expensive.”
This has triggered excited talk about the “great value rotation” but Mr Garnry remains sceptical. “We need to see a breakout of interest rates combined with higher inflation before we join the crowd.”
Always remember that past performance is not a guarantee of future returns. Last year’s winners often turn out to be this year’s losers, and vice-versa.
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TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
The biog
From: Ras Al Khaimah
Age: 50
Profession: Electronic engineer, worked with Etisalat for the past 20 years
Hobbies: 'Anything that involves exploration, hunting, fishing, mountaineering, the sea, hiking, scuba diving, and adventure sports'
Favourite quote: 'Life is so simple, enjoy it'
if you go
The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow.
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes).
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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RACECARD%20
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From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Bombshell
Director: Jay Roach
Stars: Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, Margot Robbie
Four out of five stars
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Results:
Men's 100m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 15 sec; 2. Rheed McCracken (AUS) 15.40; 3. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 15.75. Men's 400m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 50.56; 2. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 50.94; 3. Henry Manni (FIN) 52.24.
Fifa Club World Cup:
When: December 6-16
Where: Games to take place at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi and Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain
Defending champions: Real Madrid
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')
Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')
Disposing of non-recycleable masks
Use your ‘black bag’ bin at home
Do not put them in a recycling bin
Take them home with you if there is no litter bin
- No need to bag the mask
